Mixing apparatus



March 1, 1949. w. P, GQDSN 2,463,376

MIXING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 18, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY- WALTER F. GODSON.

March 1, 1949. w. P. GODSON MIXING ,mn'amwus 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledSept. 18, 1945 H P- INVENTOR.

WALTER P. GODSON.

ATTORNEY March I, 1949. w. P. GODSON MIXING APPARATUS 4 Sheets- Sheet 5Filed Sept. 18, 1945 .INVENTOR.

WALTER H GODSON ATTORNEY March 1, 1949. w. P. GODSON MIXING APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 18, 1945 INVENTOR.

WALTER P. GODSON.

AT roRNEY Patented Mar. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MIXINGAPPARATUS Walter P. Godson, New York, N. Y.

Application September 18, 1945, Serial No. 616,981

4 Claims. 1

The invention relates to mixing apparatus for mixing materials and hasto do more particularly with mixing apparatus for mixing aggregates andasphalt and/or Portland cement as well as other materials conventionallyused in constructing roads, pavements, and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus of simpleconstruction whereby the mixing operations are performed with maximumefficiency.

The invention contemplates further the provision of an apparatusincluding mixing means capable of compound rotation whereby theefficiency of the mixing operations is increased.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mixing apparatusincluding blades capable of being rotated in circular paths, and ofbeing coincidentally rotated about their own individual axes during suchtravel in circular paths, to thereby increase the effectiveness of themixing action of said blades.

Other objects will appear from the description hereinafter, and thefeatures of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an example of theinvention without defining its limits,

Fig. l is a plan view of the novel mixing apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the novel apparatus;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation with parts in section;

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of different types of mixing blades,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation with parts removed and partly insection;

Fig. 7 is a detail side elevation of the discharge gate and associatedelements, and

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional elevation thereof.

In the form illustrated in the drawings, the apparatus comprises amixing tank or casing 5 of suitable dimensions and preferably ofrectangular form and constructed of metal or any other suitablematerial. The tank or container is carried by a suitable supportingmeans which may comprise brackets 6 secured to or forming part of thewalls of the tank 5 and supported by I-beams I, as shown in Fig. 3.

If the device is mobile and intended to be moved from place to place,the I-beams I, in turn, may be mounted on a suitable carriage, while ifthe apparatus occupies a stationary position, said I-beams I may becarried by a suitable supporting structure. Twin shafts, preferably inthe form of tubular, preferably rectangular, housings 8 and 9, made ofmetal or other suitable materials, extend lengthwise of the tank orcontainer 5 and beyond the opposite ends thereof in spaced, parallelrelation as shown in Fig. 1. At one end, the housings 8 and 9 may eachbe provided with metal or other blocks Ill suitably fixed as by weldingto or in the respective ends of said housings 8 and 9, with trunnionsIll-a. projecting from said blocks ill and extending outwardly beyondthe one end wall of the tank 5. The trunnions Ill-a. are each journalledin a suitable bearing ll, conveniently mounted in the apparatus, so asto provide for the rotation of said trunnions lEl-a. therein. At theopposite ends, the housings 8 and 9 are provided in their external ends,respectively, with blocks l2 and l2-a suitably fixed in place as bywelding or otherwise and including tubular trunnions l3 and l3-a whichare each journalled in its own bearing l4 conveniently mounted inposition. It will be understood that the connections between the blocksIll and the blocks l2 and I2a, and the opposite ends of the respectivehousings 8 and 9 are such as to provide the strength necessary to rotatesaid housings 8 and 9 with full power. To provide for the rotation ofthe housings 8 and 9 about their respective axes, as will be moreclearly pointed out hereinafter, the end Walls of the tank 5 includeopenings M--a in axial registry with said housings 8 and 9 and eachdimensioned to avoid interference with the aforesaid rotation of saidhousings '8 and 9. Unless provision is made to prevent the same, theaforesaid openings l4--a will permit escape of the material from thetank or casing 5, particularly during an operative period of theapparatus. This is due to the fact that the openings l4-a are circularin form while the housings 8 and 9 are of rectangular shape incross-section. Any convenient means may be provided to prevent suchleakage, as, for instance, by mounting segmental sections a and b on therespective housings dimensioned to rotatively fit said openings 14-11.,with the curved peripheral surfaces of the sections a. and b inoperative engagement with the peripheries of said openings. Theaforesaid sealing means may further include flanges located at oppositeends of the housings 8 and 9 in interior contact with the tank 5 beyondthe peripheries of the openings I4-a.

The shafts or, specifically, the housings 8 and 9 carry blades orpaddles i5 and I6 and l5-a and Ni a, respectively. The blades I5 and I6and l5a and Iii-a are definitely spaced in predetermined relation toeach other and extend diametrically of the shafts or housings 8 and 9 indirections approximately at right angles to each other, or in othersuitable relation in cooperating groups on each housing 8 and 9 asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. The arrangement is such that the blades l5and I6 of the housing 8, and the blades l5a and l6-a, of the housing 9,rotate in succession in paths which overlap and which are intermediate 3of each other with respect to the blades of the two housings 8 and 9 asshown in Fig. 1. It will be understood that other arrangements may besubstituted in which the paths of the blades do not overlap if thisshould be desired.

The blades l and I6 are carried by the housing 8, and the blades l5-aand I5-a are correspondingly carried by the housing 9 so as to becapable of rotation about their individual axes coincidentally with therotation of said blades through the previously-mentioned circular paths.For this purpose, the blades are mounted in bearings and preferably inconventional ball bearings I1 and extend diametrically across therespective housings 8 and 9 interiorly thereof as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Rotation of the housings 8 and 9 which preferably is in oppositedirections, that is, clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively, maybe effected by any suitable mechanism. For instance, at a pointoutwardly beyond the bearings It, the trunnions l3 and iii-a may beprovided, respectively, with sprocket wheels 58 and i8-a arranged incooperating pairs, with each pair connected by means of suitablesprocket chains with independent motive power, for instance, in the formof conventional engines or motors. The arrangement, as previouslystated, is preferably such that the housings 8 and 9 will beindependently rotated about their respective axes in oppositedirections.

Any suitable means may be included in the apparatus for rotating theblades [5 and i6 and Iii-a and I6-a on their individual axes during therotation of the housings 8 and 9. For instance, the blades l5 and [5-0.nearest one end of the tank or casing 5 may respectively be providedinteriorly with a sprocket wheel is and l9a connected by means of asprocket chain and 29a with a sprocket wheel 2| and 2i-a carried by astub-shaft 22 and -22a journalled in respective bearings 23 and 23-41mounted upon the housing 8 and the housing 9 externally thereof as shownin Fig. 1. The shafts 22 and 22-a and the sprocket wheels 2! and 2i-amay be driven in any suitable manner as by means of bevel pinions 24 and24a fixed respectively on said stub-shafts 22 and 22-a and meshing withrespective bevel pinions 25 and 25a carried by the shafts 26 and 26-41extending through the tubular trunnions I3 and l3a and being mounted insuitable bearings 28-2) and 2'5c suitably supported in the apparatus,for instance, as shown in Fig. 1. The shaft 26 and the shaft 26a areprovided, eXteriorly of the respective bearings 14, with sprockets 2'!and Z'i-a arranged in cooperating pairs, with each pair independentlyconnected by means of sprocket chains with a suitable source of power.For the purpose of controlling the shafts 23 and 2iia and theirrespective associated elements, a clutch '28 and a clutch 28a, ofconventional type, may be provided for connecting the shafts 26 and 26awith the respective sprockets 2'! and 2?a at will. The clutches 28 and28a are loosely mounted on the shafts 26 and ZS-a and include shiftablemembers 28-h each of which is mounted to rotate with its own sleeve 28-0slidable on the shafts 26 and 26a respectively and separately splinedthereon. The sleeves 28c each carry a projection a arranged to cooperatewith a cooperating projection 12 on the associate bearing 26-4) or 2Bc,said projections a and b bearing a predetermined relation to the bladesas will appear fully hereinafter. At points beyond the 4 bearings '26-!)and 26c, the shafts 26 and 26a carry hand wheels 0 for the purpose to bemore fully pointed out hereinafter,

The end blades 15 and I5-a carry additional sprocket wheels 29 and 29aconnected by means of sprocket chains 36] and 30a with sprocket wheels3i and 3 I-a on the next adjacent pair of blades 15 and l5a,respectively. This lastnamed pair of blades i5 and l5a and the otherassociated pairs of blades l5 and Iii-a, in turn, are operativelyconnected with each other by means of sprocket wheels 32 and 32a andsprocket chains 33 and 33-a. The end pair of blades It is likewiseconnected by means of a sprocket Wheel 34 and a sprocket chain 35 withan associated sprocket wheel mounted to rotate with a bevel gear 36which meshes also with the bevel gear 25 as shown in Fig. 1 so as to bedriven by the shaft 26 when the clutch 28 is in operative position. Thebevel gear 36 and its associated sprocket may be carried by a stub-shaft22' journalled in a bearing similar to the bearing 23 and mounted uponthe housing 8 externally thereof and at right angles to said bearing 23.The other blades is are correspondingly connected with each other bymeans of suitable sprocket wheels and sprocket chains 37 in the sameway, as previously described, with respect to the blades l5 The bladesl5-a and l6-a of the housing 9 are operatively connected with a powershaft 2' 3a and with each other, in the same way as previously set forthherein with respect to the blades l5 and I6. Likewise, sprocket wheels27-41, connected with an independent source of power are correspondinglyprovided and include a conventional clutch 28a for the purpose ofcontrol.

Preferably, the apparatus includes twin bottom sections 38 suitablymounted in the casing or tank 5 to provide a discharge opening 39 andcurved on radii having the axes of the respective housings 8 and 9 ascenters as shown in Figs. '7 and 8 and located in proximity to the endsof the blades l5, I6, and i5-a, and l6a, respectively, as shown in Fig.3.

Any suitable means may be provided to control the discharge of thefinished mix from the apparatus through said discharge opening 39 atwill, said means being of suitable type operated in any convenientmanner.

In the illustrated example, this discharge means comprises a gate 48which, in its closed position seals the discharge opening 39 of thebottom sections 38 and is slidable relatively thereto to control saiddischarge opening 39 through which the finished mix may pass from theapparatus when said gate 40 is in its open position.

The gate 4E8 may be manually shifted to its open and closed positionsand vice versa in any convenient manner, or said gate may beautomatically operated by suitable power actuated means, as may bepreferred.

For instance, as shown, the gate-operating means may comprise a cylinderll suitably mounted in the apparatus and connected in an appropriatemanner with a source of fluid, such as steam or air under pressure,controlled in any customary way to provide the desired reciprocation ofa piston in said cylinder ii. The piston is connected with the gate .0in any convenient way, as by means of a piston rod 42 attached to a lugl2a depending from said gate GED-as shown in Figs. 3, '7, and 8.Suitable control means is provided to control the operation of thepiston in a manner to slidably adjust said gate 40 to and from its openand closed positions and vice versa.

In the illustrated example, the gate 45] is provided withlongitudinally-extending ribs or flanges 43 dependiing from the gate 40in spaced, parallel relation and riding upon rollers Ml which arejournalled uipon suitable parts of the apparatus such as channel beams45 conveniently mounted in the apparatus. As shown in Fig. 8, thearrangement is such that the gate is located in proximity to the beams45 and preferably slides thereon with the flanges 43 projectingdownwardly beyond and in relatively close association with said beamsA5. The ribs or flanges 53, in addition to their other functions,accordingly, serve as stops movable with the gate All whereby the latteris maintained in its path of travel against transverse shiftingrelatively to the beams it.

To prevent leakage of material from the tank or casing when the gate 4 3is closed, said gate is provided along its opposite longitudinal edgeswith ribs it which slidably fit into grooves 4'5 formed in the twinbottom sections 33 in close proximity to the longitudinal edges of theopening as illustrated in Fig. 8. To further guard against such leakage,the gate carries upright ribs or flanges 48 located in spaced, parallelrelation in sliding engagement with the opposite longitudinal edges ofthe discharge opening 39. In addition, the gate 49 includes flanges orribs .9 located at opposite ends thereof for engagement, respectively,with an end edge of the opening 39 on the inside and With an opposedwall of the tank 5 on the outside; the arrangement is such that the ribsAll follow the shape of the gate 653 and of the twin bottom sections 38throughout the extent of the ends of said opening 38 as shown in Figs.'7 and 8. With this arrangement, the opening 39 is efficiently sealedagainst leakage when the gate 40 is closed and may be readily opened atwill to permit the discharge of the mix Whenever desired.

At the beginning of an operative cycle, blades 15 and It at oppositeends of the shaft or housing 8 and the blades l5a and l6a at oppositeends of the shaft or housing 8 extend at opposite inclinations or anglesas illustrated in Fig. 1, said groups of blades being set in thesepositions when the apparatus is assembled.

In the operation of the mixer, the two shafts or housings 8 and 9 areindividually rotated through the medium of the sprocket wheels i8 andl8a by their respective independent sources of power to cause the blades15 and I6 and the blades l5a and l5a to travel in circular paths,preferably in opposite directions, in overlapping intermeshing relationwith each other. As the blades of the two housings 8 and 9 are thusactuated in circular paths, and assuming the clutches 28 and 28a to bein operative position, the shafts 26 and 26a will be coincidentallyrotated about their respective axes to thereby cause the blades l5 andI6 and the blades l5a and l6a. to be coincidentally rotated about theirown individual axes as the circular rotation proceeds.

When the mixing operation has been carried out to bring about thedesired mix, the shiftable members 28b of the clutches 28 and 2Ba areadjusted in a direction away from the members 28 and 28-a of saidclutches and adjusts the latter to positions in which the projections 0.carried by the sleeves 28-0 are located in paths of rotation into whichthe stationary projections 12 on the bearings 26b and 26c extend.

Continued operation of the apparatus with the parts in the aforesaidpositions will, accordingly, shift the projections a into engagementwith the projections 19 as illustrated in Fig. 6. In cases of need or,if desired, the hand wheels 0 may be manually operated to bring theprojections a into engagement with the projections b.

In any case, when the projections 01. are in engagement with theprojections b, the mechanism whereby the respective groups of blades arerotated about their individual axes is disconnected and thereby renderedinoperative and the blades automatically occupy the positions shown inFig. 1, and in such position, may be rotated in circular paths by theoperation of the housings 8 and 9 through the medium of their respectiveoperating means; it will be understood that during these operativestages, the blades do not rotate on their individual axes. At this time,or prior thereto, the gate 40 is shifted to its open position so that asthe respective groups of blades are rotated about the axes of therespective housings 8 and 9, the mix, as a result of the angularsettings of the respective blades, will be caused to travel toward theopening 39 and discharged therethrough. It will be noted that the bladesin the respective groups are relatively set to accomplish such dischargein an efficient manner.

When the mix has been completely discharged from the casing or tank 5,the gate 40 is restored to its closed position, and the clutch members2iib are operated to adjust the clutches 28 and 28-11 to their operativecondition and to thereby restore the apparatus to its initial operatingcondition. A new supply of materials to be mixed may then be introducedinto the casing or tank 5, after which, the cycle of operationshereinbefore described is repeated.

It will be noted in the illustrated example that the respective groupsof blades are mounted in off-center positions on the respective shaftsor housings 3 and 9. This arrangement is desirable in order to providethe required space for the necessary mechanism and its operationinteriorly of the respective housings 8 and 9. In the preferredarrangement, the latter includes removable covers 5| to provide readyaccess to the interior of the housings 8 and 9 and the mechanismcontained therein at will.

By rotating the blades about their individual axes coincidentally withthe revolution of said blades in circular paths, the mixing action ofsaid blades is materially increased over those of conventional mixingmachines. In other words, this rotation of the individual bladesprovides an improved mixing and rubbing together of the materials beingmixed and thereby coats the materials with maximum uniformity and morecompletely with the cement or its equivalent and, at the same time,intermixes the materials in a manner to obtain greater density andstrength in the mix or product. As a result, the roads and pavementsconstructed from such materials are of maximum strength and of maximumuniformity throughout.

The blades l5 and I6 and |5a and l6-a preferably are detachably securedin position upon the respective housings 8 and 9 in any suitable manneras, for instance, by being removably mounted upon lugs 52 by means ofbolts 53 or the like. With such arrangement, it is possible to replaceone type of blades with another type so that the operator is enabled atall times to provide the type of blades which is most efficient toproduce mixtures of different ingredients. For instance, the blade ofFig. 4, having flanges 50 or the polygonal blade of Fig. 5, may beeasily substituted for the blades shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

With the arrangement set forth, the rotative speed of the blades l5, l6,and Ia, lSa about their individual axes may be controlled without regardto the speed of rotation of the housings 8 and 9; in addition, theblades 15, and I6, on the housing 8 may be operated about their axes atspeeds difiering from the operative speeds of the blades 1 5-11 and l6aon the housing 9, and vice versa or in any other combination. Thisrotation of the blades about their individual axes may, therefore, becontrolled to provide the most eificient results in dependence upon thenature and character of the materials being mixed.

Suitable provision may be made for maintaining the temperature in thetank or casing 5 at a substantially constant point, for instance, byheating with steam, exhaust gases from the engines, hot air fromcompressors or in any other conventional manner. Furthermore, the tankor casing 5 may be jacketed to facilitate the heating thereof by thesteam or other medium.

By enclosing the operating mechanism within the respective housingsoperating as rotating shafts, such mechanism is protected from contactwith the materials being mixed and is also protected against the harmfuleffects of dust, dirt, and other foreign substances.

By driving and operating the housings and their associated elements bypower means, independent of each other, the operative strains arereduced to a minimum. It will, of course, be understood that othersuitable driving mean may be substituted for the sprocket wheels andsprocket chains without affecting the efiiciency of the apparatus.

As previously stated, the apparatus may be mounted upon stationary,supporting means for producing mixtures to be stored at a given place,or said apparatus may be mounted upon a suitable mobile carriage so asto be capable of being easily transported from place to place. In thislatter form, the mixtures may be produced and discharged directly at thepoints of utilization.

Although the present invention has been de scribed in conjunction with apreferred embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications andvariations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, as those skilled. in the art will readilyunderstand. Such variations and modifications are considered to bewithin the purview and scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, a mixing chamber, mixingmeans in said chamber comprising blades mounted to be adjustable inpitch and rotatable on their longitudinal axes, shafts for so rotatingsaid blades and on which they are mounted, another shaft mounted torotate in a plane angular to the plane of rotation of said first namedshafts and on which they are mounted for rotation therewith, separatepower operated means for driving said shafts, said shafts beingconstructed and arranged to be driven simultaneously and at differentspeeds by said separate power operated means, and clutch meansassociated with one of said power operated means in accordance with theposition. of which said shafts are driven simultaneously or one of themonly.

2. In a machine of the character described a mixing chamber, mixingmeans in said chamber comprising blades mounted to be adjustable inpitch and rotatable on their longitudinal axes, shafts for so rotatingsaid blades and on. which they are mounted, another shaft, mounted torotate in a plane an ular to the plane of rotation of said first namedshafts, and on which they are mounted for endwise rotation and in whichthey are also mounted for their first mentioned rotation, separate poweroperated means for driving each of said shafts, said shafts beingconstructed and arranged to be driven separately or simultaneously andat different speeds by the separate power means, and clutch meansassociated with said power operated means in accordance with theposition of which said shafts are driven simultaneously or one of themonly.

3. In a machine of the character described, a mixin chamber, mixingmeans in said chamber rng blades mounted to be adjustable in pitch androtatable on their longitudinal axes, shafts for so rotating said bladesand on which they are mounted another shaft mounted to rotate in a planeangular to the plane of rotation of said first named shafts and on whichthey are mounted, separate power operated means for driving each of saidshafts, said shafts being constructed and arranged to be drivenseparately or simultaneously and at different speeds by the separateposer operated means, and clutch means. associated with said poweroperated means in accordance with the position of which said are sodriven. simultaneously or one of them only, said clutch means comprisinga movable member operetively connected with the first named shafts, amember, connected with said power operated means and engageable parts onsaid clutch .rnen'ibersv constructed and arranged to engage and connectthem and hold said first named shafts and their blades inoperative fromrotation when the said blades are in predetermined positions of saidaxial rotation.

1. In a machine of the character described, a damber, mixing means insaid chamber compilsizg blades mounted to be rotatable on longitudinalaxes, shafts for so rotating said blades and on which they are mounted,another shaft mounted to rotate in a plane angular to the plane ofrotation of first named shafts and on which they are mounted forrotation therewith, separate power operated means for driving eachv ofsaid shafts,v said shafts being constructed and arranged to be driven bythe separate power means simultaneously and at different speeds.

WALTER P. GODSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PlaTEl-TTS Number Name Date 255,115 Berrell Apr. 11, 1882512,232 Smith Jan. 2, 1894 524,122 Van Court Aug. '7, 1394 1,2e7fil3Nov. 20, 1917 1,226,383 Ludekens Aug. 20, 1918 1,498,953 Banbury June24, 1924 1,706,411? impson Mar. 26, 1929 1,823,443 Gamm Sept. 15, 19312,283,008 Le Bar et al May 12, 1942

